Activist Takes On BK Assemblyman After Aide Accused Of $80K Theft

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — A local housing activist has thrown her hat in the ring for Felix Ortiz's seat in the New York State Assembly, just a month after the Democratic leader was called to resign because of his former chief of staff's federal arrest.

Marcela Mitaynes, also a Democrat, plans to officially announce her campaign for District 51 with an event this Saturday. She said her decade of experience advocating for housing rights and her time both growing up in, and raising a family in Sunset Park, made her want to represent her community at the state level.

"(I) has worked across the state, from Sunset Park to Albany, building coalitions and bringing the power of knowledge and collective action to tenants throughout New York," she told Patch. "(I am) running to represent New York Assembly District 51 because this is my home, our home, and we’re not going anywhere. "

Mitaynes career in activism first started when she was evicted from her rent stabilized apartment 10 years ago after having lived there for 30 years.

She began working with Neighbors Helping Neighbors and advocated with other tenants to pass the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, a package of rent protection laws advocates have long called for to protect tenants like Mitaynes who are forced from their homes.

Mitaynes said that it was through this fight that she learned the role politics played in the housing crisis.

"I also realized that housing is about so much more than the monthly rent: it is a basic human right," she said. "It is about living free from landlord harassment in a safe home with dignity... And it is most importantly about putting down strong roots and growing resilient communities in the face of mounting extremism."

So far, Mitaynes is the only candidate to officially put herself in the race against Ortiz, who has been in office since 1994. Ortiz most recently made headlines when his former chief of staff, Maruf Alam, was arrested for taking more than $80,000 over seven years and lying about it on disclosure forms.

Alam has since been fired from the office, but the arrest still led local party leaders to call for answers from Ortiz about what he knew about the scheme.

When asked if the controversy factored into her decision to run, Mitaynes said she decided to run "because she will be bringing her personal and professional experience to Albany as a community driven leader."

"This campaign is about bringing the community to the table and includes being transparent during the campaign and as an Assemblyperson," she said.

Mitaynes will announce her candidacy at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Tres Chivos on Fifth Avenue. An RSVP for the event can be found here.